Hello, and welcome to Omen, the Michaelmas 2016/Hilary 2017 freeform game for the Oxford University Roleplaying Games Society. If you’ve never played any sort of roleplaying game before, never fear! We’ve got you covered with this handy introduction. If you’re a seasoned roleplayer, a lot of this should be familiar, but feel free to scroll through for a quick refresh.

Hello, and welcome to Omen, the Michaelmas 2016/Hilary 2017 freeform game for the Oxford University Roleplaying Games Society. If you’ve never played any sort of roleplaying game before, never fear! We’ve got you covered with this handy introduction. If you’re a seasoned roleplayer, a lot of this should be familiar, but feel free to scroll through for a quick refresh.

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* The [[character creation]] page, for a guide to creating a character and bringing them to life within the game.

* The [[character creation]] page, for a guide to creating a character and bringing them to life within the game.

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Got questions or concerns, or looking for advice or help? Feel free to email the [[gm@omen.chaosdeathfish.com||GM team]] at any time.

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Got questions or concerns, or looking for advice or help? Feel free to email the [[gm@omen.chaosdeathfish.com|GM team]] at any time.

=====What is Omen?=====

=====What is Omen?=====

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Omen is a live freeform roleplaying game - a style that sits somewhere between amateur dramatics and collaborative storytelling. You turn up, create a character, and then take on their role as you play the game. There are no scripts or predetermined outcomes - just a setting, a bunch of other characters to interact with, and some GMs to make sure it all runs smoothly. Instead of narrating your character’s actions or controlling them through a controller, you actually perform them, talking, gossiping, trading, eavesdropping and orating just as your character would. This doesn’t mean you need to be a great public speaker - just be able to speak as your character.

Omen is a live freeform roleplaying game - a style that sits somewhere between amateur dramatics and collaborative storytelling. You turn up, create a character, and then take on their role as you play the game. There are no scripts or predetermined outcomes - just a setting, a bunch of other characters to interact with, and some GMs to make sure it all runs smoothly. Instead of narrating your character’s actions or controlling them through a controller, you actually perform them, talking, gossiping, trading, eavesdropping and orating just as your character would. This doesn’t mean you need to be a great public speaker - just be able to speak as your character.

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For various reasons, combat ​and other harmful activities ​aren'​t ​generally possible during the meetings — if anything unusual has to happen which can't be acted out, the GMs will freeze the scene and describe what occurs. A lot of the time, the more dramatic events won’t be happening in the meetings themselves, but during downtime (discussed below).

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Combat ​and other harmful activities ​are not generally possible during ​session. IC this is because the meeting venue has centuries of wards against harm applied to it, along with a friendly Gaian keeping everything under control. OC there are various reasons, including health and safety regulations and the feasibility of determining ​the outcome of such events in session. If anything unusual has to happen which can't be acted out, the GMs will freeze the scene and describe what occurs. A lot of the time, the more dramatic events won’t be happening in the meetings themselves, but during downtime (discussed below).

The most important thing about playing is that roleplaying is about having fun and creating stories with other players. Absolutely no experience is required to play the Society Game and there will be plenty of supportive people on-hand to help if you have any questions. Just turn up and enjoy yourself!

The most important thing about playing is that roleplaying is about having fun and creating stories with other players. Absolutely no experience is required to play the Society Game and there will be plenty of supportive people on-hand to help if you have any questions. Just turn up and enjoy yourself!

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=====How do I play it?=====

=====How do I play it?=====

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Every Tuesday during Michaelmas and Hilary terms, players meet in [[when_and_where|Mansfield College]]. These sessions represent meetings organised by a group of witches to address the mysterious portent which appeared a few weeks before the first one. At these meetings, players try to work out what’s going on - and what to do about it.

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Every Tuesday during Michaelmas and Hilary terms, players meet in [[where_and_when|Mansfield College]]. These sessions represent meetings organised by a group of witches to address the mysterious portent which appeared a few weeks before the first one. At these meetings, players try to work out what’s going on - and what to do about it.

The game is run by a team of GMs who will be on hand, usually playing NPCs, to offer help, advice and information,​ and to keep the game running smoothly. ​

The game is run by a team of GMs who will be on hand, usually playing NPCs, to offer help, advice and information,​ and to keep the game running smoothly. ​

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* **PC** - Player Character. You! The characters that Omen players create and represent in the fictional world. You will usually play the same PC every week through the course of the game, though you may switch or retire a character if you get bored. ​

* **PC** - Player Character. You! The characters that Omen players create and represent in the fictional world. You will usually play the same PC every week through the course of the game, though you may switch or retire a character if you get bored. ​

* **NPC** - Non-Player Character. Us again! Important characters (such as senior members of factions, Gaians or celestials) who are present at the meeting but played by a GM. NPCs will usually vary week-to-week,​ and GMs will often play several NPCs during a game session.

* **NPC** - Non-Player Character. Us again! Important characters (such as senior members of factions, Gaians or celestials) who are present at the meeting but played by a GM. NPCs will usually vary week-to-week,​ and GMs will often play several NPCs during a game session.

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* **PvP** and **PvP** - Player vs Environment and Player vs Player. Terms used to describe the nature of conflict (not necessarily violent!) within the system. Omen is primarily PvE, as players must work to solve a problem in the world. However, due to the significance of conflicting viewpoints, we expect some PvP as well.

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* **PvE** and **PvP** - Player vs Environment and Player vs Player. Terms used to describe the nature of conflict (not necessarily violent!) within the system. Omen is primarily PvE, as players must work to solve a problem in the world. However, due to the significance of conflicting viewpoints, we expect some PvP as well.

====Calls====

====Calls====

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Sometimes, GMs will shout things during sessions. While sometimes this is just because we have information,​ or are playing shouty NPCs, sometimes it’s because we are making an OC call. These are triggers for roleplaying certain effects. ​In-universe, there are beings who can cause a variety of effects to happen. ​Out of universe, asking you to remember 50 different calls is unreasonable,​ so rather than telling you that you feel an invisible force crushing your insides, or you’ve just been hit with a fireball, we will call ‘rend’.

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Sometimes, GMs will shout things during sessions. While sometimes this is just because we have information,​ or are playing shouty NPCs, sometimes it’s because we are making an OC call. These are triggers for roleplaying certain effects. ​IC, there are beings who can cause a variety of effects to happen. ​OC, asking you to remember 50 different calls is unreasonable,​ so rather than telling you that you feel an invisible force crushing your insides, or you’ve just been hit with a fireball, we will call ‘rend’.

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These calls are likely to be used infrequently,​ if at all, during sessions. Players cannot make these calls unless specifically told they can by GMs. You may roleplay the effect of being hit with a call in any way you choose, as long as you have regard to the physical wellbeing of yourself and others and the need to respect those around us, i.e. don't scream loudly if we've been asked to keep the sessions quiet owing to being near student accommodation. If you are physically unable to comply with the effect of a call, please speak with the GMs and we will find an alternative effect you can enjoy playing.

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You may roleplay the effect of being hit with a call in any way you choose, as long as you have regard to the physical wellbeing of yourself and others and the need to respect those around us, i.e. don't scream loudly if we've been asked to keep the sessions quiet owing to being near student accommodation. If you are physically unable to comply with the effect of a call, please speak with the GMs and we will find an alternative effect you can enjoy playing.

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These calls are likely to be used infrequently,​ especially during the early sessions. If a call is likely to come up in session, we'll brief you on it beforehand, so don't worry about memorising this list! Please note that players cannot make calls unless specifically told so by the GMs.